Feeding device for carding-machines.



No. 659,240. Patented Oct. 9, 1900.

T. LEE. 1 FEEDING DEVICE FOR CARDING MACHINES.

(Application filed Mar. 1, 1899.)

(No Model.)

ILJJHIHIlHlll Tm; nonms PETERS co.v Puoraumq, WASHNGTON. n. c.

UNrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS LEE; OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FEEDING DEVICE FOR CARDING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,240, dated October9, 1900.

Application filed March I 1899. Serial No. 707,332. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS LEE, a citizen of the United States, residingat Philadelphia, in the, county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inFeeding Devices for W001 and Other Material, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in feedingdevicesfor W001 and other material when said material is to be transferred fromone point to another, being treated for industrial purposes, and has forits objectto provide a single carrier-apron and so arrange series ofteeth in connection therewith as to cause said teeth to project throughthe apron to engage and convey the material and then withdraw saidteeth, so as to disengage them therefrom, and thereby prevent anytendency of the material being carried rearward upon the return movementof the apron.

With these ends in view this invention consists in the details ofconstruction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and thenspecifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention.appertains may understand how to make and use the same, theconstruction and operationwill now be described in detail, referring tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, inwhich- Figure 1 is a diagram of my improved feeding mechanism, showingit arranged in connection with aprons for conveying the material to thefeeding mechanism and carrying it therefrom after being elevated; Fig.2, an enlarged section of a portion of one of the cross-pieces carryinga series of teeth, said teeth projecting through the apron; Fig. 3,

a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a slightlymodified form ofconstruction in which the cross-strip carrying the teeth is guided by abracket depending from the apron; Fig. 4, a similar view of thisconstruction, showing the teeth withdrawn from the apron; and Fig. 5, asection taken crosswise of the crossstrip, showing the form ofguide-bracket.

ln carrying out my invention as embodied in Figs. 1 and 2, A, B, O, andD represent drums, over which the apron E is arranged the latter, asclearly Fig. 1.

to travel, and this apron has secured to its inner surface a series ofcross-strips F, which are connected to the links G of the carrierchains.To each of these strips is hinged a strip H, having the teeth I settherein, so that when these last-named strips are swung parallel withthe apron the teeth will pass through shown upon the left of J is aguide-strip so located as to hold the hinged strips H in parallelismwith the apron when traveling upon one side of the device, by whicharrangement the hinged strips when reaching the drum A will be swunginto contact with the apron, the teeth thereof passing through saidapron, in which relative position they will remain While passing aroundthis drum and will be prevented from swinging inward'by immediately passing into engagement with the strip J.

When the toothed strips pass beyond the drum B, theywill be free toswing downward, thereby carrying their teeth below the surface of theapron, and thus disengaging said teeth from the material being conveyed.After the toothed strips have been thus swung downward they will remainin this relative position until again reaching the drum A, where theoperation just described will be repeated.

In practice when material is conveyed to the feeding mechanism by theapron K the teeth I will engage this material and elevate it in thedirection of the arrow, retaining their hold thereon until the teethhave been withdrawn from the apron, as before described, after which thematerial will be free to fall from the apron at the point where thelatter turns the drum 0, and thus be precipitated upon the apron L orother suitable device. If found desirable, protec ing-strips M may besecured upon the apron, having holes therethrough for the passage of theteeth to render the apparatus more durable at these points. From thisdescription it is obvious that a positive hold will be taken upon thematerial to be elevated and fed during that portion of the operationwhen such a hold is essential; but this hold will be released at thepoint where it is necessary to deposit the material, thus avoiding thedisadvantage heretofore experienced in the tendency to carry thematerial rearward or to remove it from the teeth.

In practice I have found that this construction is exceedingly simpleand effective and not liable to become disarranged, and as each stripcarrying the teeth is hinged to the apron said teeth will alwayspositively register with the holes through which they are to pass. It

is to be noted that the strip J is arranged upon I each side of theapron, so as to engage both ends of the cross-strips.

In Figs. 3, 4, and 5 I have shown a construction that slightly differsfrom the one above described, but in all essentials accomplishes thesame result and in substantially the same manner. This constructionconsists of securing to or forming with the links N of thecarrier-chains 0 depending brackets P, said brackets being slotted 0rforked, so as to form guides for the toothed cross-pieces Q, the latterhaving extensions R thereon, adapted to fit within these guideways andalso projecting inward beyond the brackets, whereby they are adapted toride upon the guides S, arranged along the sides of the apparatus. Theseguides are so arranged as to force the toothed strips upward at theproper time, thereby carrying the teeth through the apron for thepurpose before set forth, and the teeth are withdrawn from the apron bymeans of the guides F, arranged to act upon the opposite sides of theextensions R for drawing the toothed cross-pieces inward,as shown inFig. at.

While I am aware that attempts have been made to arrange teeth so thatthey would first project and then be withdrawn, I have discovered byexperiment that it is absolutely essential to the successful working ofsuch a device that the teeth be positively connected with the travelingmember, so as to always accurately register with the holes through whichthey are to pass, and this feature I desire to be understood as claimingbroadly.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and usefulis- 1. A carrier-apron or the like having crossstrips so connectedthereto as to move positively in unison therewith, teeth carried by saidstrips, and means for causing said teeth at predetermined times to passthrough said apron and be withdrawn therefrom, as specified.

2. A feeding device of the character described consisting of an endlesstraveling apron mounted upon suitable drums, a series of cross-stripssecured to said apron, a corresponding series of strips hinged to thefirstnamed strips, teeth projecting from each of the last-named strips,and means for swinging said teeth through the apron at predeterminedtimes and withdrawing them therefrom, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS LEE.

Witnesses MARY E. HAMER, SAMUEL STUART.

